Folding chair



Jan. 19, 1932.

J. D. LAWRENCE FOLDING CHAIR Filed Feb. 6, 1930 2 Skaeets-Sheet l 0 0 0 0 0 0000 7 0 0 0 0 0000000 W 0 0 0 0 0 000 0 0 0 0 0000 0 0 0 0 0 00000 MOOOOOOOOOO M 00 0% 000000 0 .0% 0.000 a Jan. 19, 1932.

J. D. LAWRENCE 1,841,744

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Feb. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 @FFEE FOLDING CHAIR- Application filed February 6, 1930. Serial No. 426,225.

This invention relates to improvements in chairs, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel folding chair of the type in which the rear legs and back form a rigid unit to which the front leg unit is pivotally connected by the side rungs of the chair. 2

Another object is to provide an improved chair of thistype, in which the seat is hinged to the back unit, and connected to the front unit by a flexible connection whereby the front leg unit and side rungs are caused to fold each time the hinged seat is swung upwardly against the back unit.

A further object is to furnish a chair of this character, including novel means for hinging the seat to the back unit.

.Vith the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter de scribed in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

' Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the chair. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view partly in,h0rizontal section.

Fig. 4c is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View in open position.

Fig. 6' is a similar view with the chair folded.

Figs. 7 and 8' are perspective views respectively of the seat and back panels.

In the drawings, 5 designates the combined rear leg and back unit, which preferably consists of a pair of legs 6 that are rigidly connected by means of cross bars or rungs 7, 8, 9 and 10. As the rungs 7 and 8 are of cylindrical shape, they are adapted to be readily connected to a back panel 11, which may be made of perforated sheet metal or the like.

The edges of this sheet are bent at right angles to the face of the sheet to provide a rearwardly extending border flange 12, the upper portion of which is rigidly secured to a channel-shaped member 13 that is adapted to fit the under surface of the rung 7 when the panel is inserted from the rear. At the opposite edge of the panel, an angular strip 1% is rigidly secured to the flange, and is designed to engage the rear surface of the rung 8. Any suitable means may be employed to detachably secure the lower edge of the panel to the rung 8. For example, cotter pins 15 may pass through holes in the rung 8, the heads 16 of these cotter pins overlapping the face of the panel, and the shanks of the cotter pins passing through holes in the angular scrip let.

In this way, a panel of simple and inexpensive construction may be readily attached to the back of the chair, and if the panel should be made up partly of chair caning, the panel can be readily renewed whenever necessary or desirable.

Side rungs 17 may be made of metal rods, the rear ends of these rods being bent at right angles to the main portions of the rods, and inserted through holes in the rear legs, the ends of the angular extensions being hammered to provide heads 18 which will securely lock the rungs to the rear legs.

The front leg unit of the chair preferably consists of front legs 19 which are rigidly secured to a top cross bar 20, and a front rung 21, and these front legs are pivotally connect-ed to angular extensions on the side rungs in the same manner as the back legs, so that the front unitmaybe swung upwardly into substantially parallel relation with the back or rear leg unit.

A seat 22, which may be made of sheet metal, is joined to the rear legs, similar to the manner of connecting the side rungs. For example, a rod 23 extends along the inner side of the rear edge of the seat, and passes A through apertures 24: in the side edges of the seat, the end portions of the rod being bent rearwardly as shown at 25, and passing through apertures in the rear legs. lWhen the extremities of the rods are rive ed, the

rodwill be rigidly connected to the rear legs as to provide a channel 28 on the under side thereof, with a horizontally extending ledge 29 extending inwardly from the inner wall of this inverted channel. This construction not alone allows the front portion of the channel to snugly engage the top bar of the front leg of holding the panel in place, the front bar of the seat frame is shaped to provide a forwardly extending channel 32 which interlocks with a projection 33 on the front portion of the flange of the panel. The opposite edge portion of the panel is provided with an aperture 34 which aligns with a similar aperture 35 in the rear bar of the seat frame. These aplertures receive a cotter pin or the like 36, w ich also passes through an aperture in one end of a hook 37, the opposite end of the hook being secured to one end of a chain 38. This chain passes below the top bar of the front leg unit, and has its other end secured to the front of the seat, so that each time the seat is swung up against the back unit, the chain will cause the front leg unit to fold also.

It will be understood that when the cotter pin 36 is removed, the panel of the seat may be detached for replacement or repairs.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the present invention provides a chair which in normal position, will not only be stable and comfortable, but one which may be readily folded whenever desired, simply by lifting the seat and swinging the same upwardly against the hack. l urthermore, the construction is such that the parts may be readily assembled or dismantled.

From the above it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention may be readily understood, and it is apparent that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. A chair comprising a back leg unit, a front leg unit, rungs pivotally connecting said units, a seat hingedly connected to one of said units, and a flexible connection joining said seat to the other unit, the last mentioned unit including a cross bar and the flexible connection passing beneath said bar and having both of its ends secured to the seat.

2. A chair comprising a back leg unit, a front leg unit, rungs pivotally connecting said units. a seat hingedly connected to one of said units. and a flexible connection joining said seat to the other unit, the last mentioned unit having a top cross bar and the flexible connection passing beneath said cross bar and and having one of its ends permanently secured to one edge of the seat, and its other end detachably secured near the opposite edge of the seat.

3. A folding chair comprising a back leg unit, a front leg unit, side rungs having their ends pivotally connected to said units, a seat hingedly connected to the back leg unit, the front leg unit including a cross bar on which the front edge of the seat rests, and a flexible fastening passing beneath said cross bar and having one of its ends connected to the front edge of the seat, and its other end connected near the rear edge of the seat.

4. A chair comprising a back leg unit, a front leg unit having a top cross bar, rungs pivotally connecting said units and a seat frame having a flanged rear portion hingedly connected to the back leg unit, and a flanged front portion having a spaced downward extension bent toward the flange thereof to form with said front flange an inverted channel to receive the cross bar of said front leg unit.

5. A folding chair comprising; a back leg unit; a front leg unit; rungs pivotally connected to said leg units for spacing the front leg unit from the back leg unit when the chair is unfolded; a cross bar between the legs of said front leg unit; and a seat pivoted to said back leg unit and having a vertical channel adjacent its front edge for engaging said cross bar to rigidly hold said front leg unit spaced from the back leg unit.

6. A folding chair comprising; a back leg unit; a front leg unit; rungs pivotally connected to said leg units for spacing the front 3 leg unit from the back leg unit when the chair is unfolded; a cross bar between the legs of said front leg unit; and a seat pivoted to said back leg unit and having a vertical channel adjacent its front edge for engaging said cross bar to rigidly hold said front leg unit spaced from the back leg unit; and a flexible member associated with said seat and extending beneath said cross bar for collapsing said front leg unit against the back leg 713 unit simultaneously with the raising of said seat when said channel is released from said cross bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN D. Li-iwnnncn. 

